Ellen K. Levy's 2009 Exhibition at Michael Steinberg Fine Art Explores Iraq War Through Antiquities and Card Games

Ellen K. Levy showcased her exhibition at Michael Steinberg Fine Art in New York City from March 19 to April 18, 2009. Her detailed paintings explore the Iraq War by contrasting images of looted Iraqi artifacts with scenes from three-card monte. Levy employs a unique technique, creating digital prints on wood that she cuts, rearranges, and paints over to create disorienting visuals. Notable pieces include Fleeced Chariot (2008), which features military language like 'System and method for deceiving enemy forces in battlefield' alongside imagery of shattered windows and card games. Conning Baghdad (2008) depicts barred windows and a spotlighted vase with a lion. The exhibition's black project room displayed a printout of missing antiquities from Iraq's National Museum. Collaborating with neuroscientist Michael E. Goldberg, Levy created a flash animation that illustrates how visual attention can obscure important details. Her work, referencing artists like Caravaggio and La Tour, critiques the violence and deceit associated with the Iraq War through intricate visual metaphors.